Grasslands, UK fact file

Types of grassland

There is very little entirely natural grassland left in the UK and most of the grassland we are familiar with can be described as semi-natural, having been altered throughout history by farming practices such as grazing, mowing, burning and the removal of larger plants. Throughout the UK there are a number of different types of grassland which vary depending on the soil type and geography of the area.

Meadows

Meadows are perhaps the best known of all grasslands, famous for their rich variety of wildflowers. There are various types of meadow found in the UK, from lowland meadows and flood pastures to the scarce upland hay meadows of the north of England. Meadows must be actively managed using traditional farming methods and after the flowers have seeded these grasslands are cut for hay and reverted to grazing during the winter.

Calcareous grasslands

Chalk or limestone grasslands, also known as calcareous grasslands, occur in both upland and lowland areas. They are managed by regular grazing, usually by sheep, which encourages plant diversity and prevents any one species from dominating this habitat. Calcareous grasslands are best known for the huge number of butterfly and moth species they support, as well as being home to a number of rare orchids.

Acid grasslands

Acid grasslands often occur on areas of infertile soil unsuitable for growing crops, and were traditionally used as common grazing land. These grasslands are characterised by clumps of vegetation interspersed with areas of open ground. Species found here include heathers, mosses, lichens, solitary bees and wasps and the rare field cricket (Gryllus campestris).

Marshy grasslands

Marshy grasslands, also known as purple moor grass and rush pasture, are most commonly found in the west of the UK thanks to the high rainfall and peaty soils of this region. Characterised by tussocks of purple moor-grass and rushes, these grasslands provide important habitat for a number of species, including ground-nesting birds and invertebrates such as the marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

Machair

Machair is a rare grassland habitat, only found along parts of the Scottish and Irish coasts. Carefully managed by local communities, machair is found on sandy coastal soils and boasts an impressive variety of flowers. It is also home to plenty of invertebrate species, particularly bees, as well as a number of breeding birds.

Calaminarian grasslands

Calaminarian grasslands are found on soils with high levels of heavy metals which are toxic to many plant species. As a result, the plant life found in these grasslands is less varied, however they are home to some rare plants such as Young's helleborine (Epipactis youngiana) and a large number of lichens.

Range

Grasslands occur throughout the UK but as agriculture has intensified, vast areas of traditional, wildlife-rich grasslands have been lost and the remaining fragments are small and isolated. For instance, estimates suggest that within the last 75 years 80% of our chalk grassland and 97% of our lowland meadows have been destroyed.

In England, The Grassland Trust estimated that only around 100,000 hectares of wildlife-rich grassland remain.

Explore the biodiversity of UK grasslands:

Threats

Wildlife-rich grasslands require careful management, and over time farmers and landowners have been moving away from traditional methods of land management towards more intensive farming practices such as ploughing and draining, using fertilisers and herbicides, and converting grassland to use for arable crops.

Although intensive farming and overgrazing is damaging for grassland, neglected or abandoned grassland is just as vulnerable, as without any management at all it can quickly become overtaken by scrub.

In parklands and other grasslands which receive high levels of recreational use, the soil fertility may be altered by dog fouling or pollution from cars and other vehicles. The planting of trees, shrubs and other introduced plants can also seriously damage grassland habitats.

Grasslands are also being lost through urban expansion, development and road building, leaving remaining areas fragmented and isolated, which can prevent wildlife from dispersing.

Conservation

In terms of conserving grassland habitat, it is vital to keep on top of scrub clearance and encourage farmers and landowners to use traditional grazing and cutting methods to manage their land. A wide range of literature is available offering landowners advice on managing grasslands for the benefit of wildlife. For example, Buglife offer guides to managing a variety of grassland habitats for invertebrates and Natural England have produced a number of publications advising on managing, restoring and creating grassland.

Grasslands can also be afforded some protection as designated nature reserves which can be carefully managed. For example, traditional grazing animals can be re-introduced, and in areas where the soil fertility has been artificially improved the nutrient-rich topsoil can be removed to allow grassland species to naturally re-colonise. Areas with introduced plants can be cleared and re-planted with seeds from unimproved grasslands.

Get involved

There are lots of practical, hands on ways you can get involved in grassland conservation, and contacting a conservation organisation such as your local Wildlife Trust is a great way to discover volunteering opportunities in your area. Activities could include scrub clearance, surveying and monitoring animal and plant species, building fences or even putting up bat boxes.

There are also simple steps you can take in your day to day life which can make a big difference, for instance showing your support by buying produce directly from local farmers who use traditional land management techniques. You might even decide to create a wildflower meadow in your own garden, and Natural England has produced a helpful guide on how to do this.

Denmark Farm in Wales is an example of how careful management can result in the return of wildlife-rich meadows in an area which has previously been intensively farmed. Their most diverse meadow now contains over 100 species.

The parklands and commons of Greater London contain a number of important acid grassland sites which are easy to visit. Richmond Park is known for its deer but is also home to a wealth of other species including many birds, fungi and over 1,350 species of beetle.

Glossary

A composite organism made up of a fungus in a co-operative partnership with an alga. Owing to this partnership, lichens can thrive in harsh environments such as mountaintops and polar regions. Characteristically forms a crustlike or branching growth on rocks or tree trunks.

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